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Acura calls the styling of the ILX concept debuting at the 2012 Detroit auto show “Arrow Fuse” dynamics and, while the concept is Civic-based, its lines provide a premium appearance absent in Civic. The ILX was created for Generation Y buyers, the first group in U.S. history on course to earn less than their parents. Acura expects to accommodate this diminished earning power with a base price well below $30,000. For comparison, the 2012 Buick Verano starts at $23,470 and the 2012 TSX at $30,695. Acura foresees moving about 40,000 units per year, and hopes to retain these younger customers and move them up within the Acura family.

“First-time luxury buyers place the highest value on exterior styling, affordability, and environmental issues, and that’s a virtual definition of what we have created with the new Acura ILX,” said Jon Ikeda, head of the Acura Design Studio. “The strategy behind this new model is to position ILX as the first opportunity for many young buyers to enter the luxury market.”

To satisfy Gen Y, ILX will have tech features like hard-drive music storage, Pandora Internet radio, smart entry keyless access with push-button start, and text-to-voice SMS capability. The volume powertrain will be a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and automatic transmission. Honda‘s familiar 1.5-liter IMA will make ILX Acura’s first hybrid offering, while the Civic Si’s 2.4-liter inline-four and six-speed manual should satisfy enthusiasts. It’ll be on sale by spring 2012.